Depth gauge



Sept. 2l, 1954 R, c. CORNELL ErAL DEPTH GAUGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 9,' 1950 [n1/mint 'd Attorney:

Fllllll SePt- 21, 1954 R. c. CORNELL ETAL 2,689,408

DEPTH GAUGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 9, 1950 Inventors Roy C. Cornell J0 E. Dean Patented Sept. 21, `1954 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Roy C. Cornell, Grand Rapids,

and Jack E. Dean,

Cascade, Mich. Application October 9, 1950, Serial No. 189,192

' 1 Claim. e 1 This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a depth gauge, and more specifically pertains to a pocket size gauge for quickly and accurately ascertaining the depths of blind holes or bores.

-The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved depth gauge of a compact size for conveniently carrying the same in the pocket of a mechanic, and which is capable of gauging the depths of blind holes and bores with accuracy and precision.

A further object of the invention is to provide a depth gauge in conformity with the foregoing object in which Athe indication of the depth gauged may be ascertained with facility; and wherein the gauge may be locked in its gauged position to facilitate the taking of measurements and comparison of the same.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved depth gauge in accordance with the foregoing objects wherein improved means are provided for quickly, easily and with certainty locking the device in its gauged position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved depth gauge as set forth inthe above-mentioned objects, wherein a minimum number of parts are provided, wherein the device shall be suiliciently compact for use in gauging the depths of small bores and for storing in the pocket of the user; and wherein the idle or rest position of the gauge may be readily adjusted as required.

And a nal important object of the invention to be Vspecifically enumerated herein is to provide a depth gauge of the pocket pencil type having a retaining clip and a protective casing for the end of the gauge.

These, together with various ancillary features Y and objects of the invention, which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein: I

"Figure 1 isa side elevational view, a part of the cap being broken awayVof a preferred construction of depth gauge incorporating therein the principles of this invention, the gauging element being indicated in its rest4 or idle position in full lines and in one.of its` gauging positions indotted lines therein; Y

Figure 2 is a view of the depth gauge shown in Figure 1, the gauge being rotated through 180 to show the other side thereof and the cap being removed therefrom; I I I Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the sectionV line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing the internal construction of the gauge, a part` of the gauge rod being broken away;

Figure 4 is an elevational View of the gauge locking device;

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view similar to Figure 3, but showing a slightly modified construction of the body of the gauge;

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 'I-l in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an end elevational view of the gauge shown in Figures -3 and taken from the, right end thereof;

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view through the body portion of the gauge;

Figure 10 is an elevational view of the movable rod element of the gauge, the locking device being shown applied thereto and shown in section; and

Figure 11 is a group assembly View showing the relative lposition of the gauge cap, the gauge retaining clip and the gauge spring.

Referring now more speciiically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughoutl the various views, it will be seen that the improved gauge embodying therein the principles of this invention consist of a generally cylindrical or tubular gauge body I0 of any suitable material, which body is cylindrical bore or chamber I2 therein, the body being open at its outer end and being internally threaded, as at I4, while at its inner end the body has an end portion I6 which is bored, as at I 8.

Adjacent its inner end, the gauge body is provided with longitudinally extending, oppositely disposed cutaway portions or slots 20 and 22, which, adjacent their edges, are provided with suitable gauging indicia 24. e

The internal chamber I2 of the body slidably receives the upper portion 26 of a gauge rod which has a cylindrical collar 28 intermediate its" ends, and a lower diametrically reduced por- `tion 30 constituting the gauging element which is slidably received in the together with the collar 28 is reciprocable Within the chamber I2 between the end portion I6 thereof and a closure constituting a locking bore I8. The rod 26,

member disposed in the outer end of the body, as

set forth hereinafter.

It is contemplated that the gauge rod 30 may be integrally connected with the collarI 28 if desired; or that a series of gauge rods of dierent lengths may be detachably secured to the collar ...dex or gauge line adapted to register with the indicia 24 appearing adjacent the slots 20 and 22.

This shouldered recess constitutes a stop shoul-f)y der while the collar 28 itself constitutes a stop 4 to thereby limit the relative outward slidingv movement of the gauge rod 3.0, With-,respect toAv the gauge body.

The internal screw threads I4 at the outer end of the chamber I2 at ther-outer end-off the body II! are adapted to receive a locking member, in the form of a sleeve or bolt 38 which is ex ternally threaded and is provided with a knurled finger grip headed portion 40: An axial bore42 extends through this bolt or locking Ymember 'for slidably receiving the gauge rod 26, and at its outer end the locking-bolt is provided with a plurality of diametrically disposed slots which impart resiliency to the member.

The arrangement is such'that whenthe locking member is screwed entirely orto fully seated position within the internally' threaded portion of" the body, the slotted" portion will beforced' together to cause the same to firmly clampupon' or grip the gauge rod 261 to prevent sliding movementof'the rod through the bore 42; while when the locking member is screwed outwardly of the body to permit'the slottedportion to expand, the gauge rodr will be free to slide through the bore 42'.'

A compression spring Msurrounds the rod 26 and terminally abuts againstthe collar-28am.V

the end ofthe locking member 3B.' This spring yieldingly urgesA the rod element' Sloutwardly of the body and urges the collar 28' into its seated position in the socket or shoulder 36: At that time, the ,index line 32 on the collar will'normally engage the, innermostofthe indicia 24' which are disposedadjacent the slots 29 and'22j thus indieating that the gauge is positioned for its maximum gauging operation. As the gauge rod 30'l is pressed into the bore to ble measured," untily the end portion I6 ofthe body I0' abuts against"V the upper surface of thev bore, it'is evident'thatY the rod 26 will be moved'upwardly in the bodyV against theV resistance of the` spring, aIIian'd'will be slid through the` bore 42of the locking'menb ber 33. Obviously, the reference'line 32will move across the indicia 24, whereby the exact' depth of the bore may be readilyascertained.A However,

when the gauge is in propergauging. position, asr

above mentioned, the locking memberr 38"`may be rotated to cause the same to lock upon the gauge rod and thereby prevent its movement' when the gauge is removed from thehole or bore to be measured.

InA order to facilitate carrying of the gauge and protecting the same duringsuch transportation, a conventional form of clip 48is provided, the Vsame having a fastening aperture 510 v,which is adapted to encircle the threaded. shank ofthe locking member 38 and be retained betweenthe headed portion 40, thereof and the end of the body I, as will be apparent from the drawings. Atl its other end, peripheral groove52, which is adapted to be resiliently engaged by. an internally extending annular rib 54 formed upon the cup-shaped. or thimble-shaped closure sleeve 56. This sleeve serves toprotect the relatively delicate end of the gauge rodSIlfrom being/bent or otherwise damaged when vnot .muse

the body is provided withA a.

The above described gauge has a'flxed range of travel with regard to the indicia 24. However, as shown in Figure 6, it is possible to provide an adjustingmeans for thisrrangeeof.,travel.,, Thus, therendportion I6,',of thetgauge bcdyIO may be provided with an internally threaded bore in which is received an externally threaded plug 62 which may be locked in longitudinally adjusted position, as by a set screw 64. This end portion IIS,v has, the, above-mentioned peripheral groove 52,'.fon the reception of the protecting cap. The end surface of the plug 62 itself constitutes the bottom-of the socketor recess 36 previously mentioned, .and provides a means whereby the outward movement of the collar 28 of the gauge rod may4 beadjustably limited to thereby selectively position the reference indicia-,32 with-respect# to the. other indicia o fthe'ga-uge;`

The operation ofI this form, ofn the-invention*- is, ofcourse, identical-with-that-previouslydef scribed.

Since, from the. foregoing', the-construction' and advantages'of this depth'gauge are' readily-ap#- parent, further; description is believed to be--unfnecessary;

However, since numerous modifications and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled'inY theartY after a; consideration of; the foregoing specification .andaccompanying drawings, it isv` not intendedlto limitthe inventionto the exact" embodimentv shown and described, but all suitable modifications Aand equivalents may be resorted to14 which fall within the scope of theV appended claim.

Havingdescribed the invention, what'is claimed as new is:

A depth gauge comprising; a body having a, bore extending therethrough andv having` anin*- spection opening, extending through said body,V intol said; bore, a, gauge rodi' slidablyA received in said' body andV having itsendsextending beyondboth endsI of saidbody, aspringin saidboreY urging the rodfrom said body, means atone end of said-body for lockingsaid rodginad'justed" positions andjournaling and` guiding one end?` ofthe rod for sliding movement; means-in" the" other endof saidbody for journaling` and guidL vof said body havinga recess ment, a collar onsaid rod havingan indexvisible at said inspection opening and guiding' saidrod for sliding movementgin said'bore, saidother'end for receiving the end of said collar, the latter-havingy abeveled" edge for entering Yand seating in' sa-idtrecess:

References,Citedinfthe file of this patent...

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name.. Date 379,423 Spencer Mar.-13,,1.888 716,279.: Rieifelm. Dec: 16,119,02 '763,076'.r Spalding,A Jilin-1:21,'1904` 1,235,785g. Esl1e1; A11g- 71917.- 1,455,9.73a Sikorovsky 1\ /Iay2 2,4 l 19231- 21,024,021: Aldeborgh Dea 10, 1935 21,400,371 Reeser Mayi 14,194d3 2,619,727 Krohn .Ded 2;.y 19522:

FGREIGN PA'.IEllsA Y Numberv4 Country -l- Dalle"l 248,521 Switzerland Eeb'; 2; 1948"i OTHER-:REFERENCES Y Publication; American\Mach p. 1'19; GetoberQ? 1950; (Copy-in'Pau OfficelLibraryrlf 

